By DESMOND EJIBAS

The Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) has cautioned political interest groups in the state against zoning the governorship candidacy away from Ijaw candidates.

The group made the call in a statement jointly issued by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata, on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

The Ogoni/Oyigbo People?s Assembly, had on Friday, endorsed the Rivers South-East Senatorial District (upland) to produce the next governor in 2027.

The assembly, a multi-political convergence of five Local Government Areas within the Senatorial District, warned political parties against fielding any candidate from outside the zone.

However, RRM argued that the Ijaw ethnic group, from which Gov. Siminalayi Fubara hailed ? his Senatorial District (riverine) ? deserved a second term in office.

?We appeal to our brothers and political leaders that, on the principle of equity, fairness, and justice, the Ijaws should be allowed to complete their eight years in office.

?This is because, for 23 years, the Ijaws have supported all other ethnic groups in securing two terms of four years each.

?The Ijaws have shown loyalty to the emergence of every administration in Rivers; and in most cases, paid the ultimate price; even against their own sons.?

The duo emphasised that it was too early to start playing politics as 2027 was still distant and urged against distractions to enable the government to deliver of its election promises.

They also noted that the Ijaws had supported former governors Chibuike Amaechi and Nyesom Wike, despite their sons contesting against them in past elections.

?The Ijaws supported other ethnic nationalities for the unity and love that we all share in Rivers state, regardless of political party.??

They pledged the group?s loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, describing Wike as the political leader of the state.

The duo also faulted the Ogoni/Oyibo People?s Assembly?s claim that the zone had the highest voting strength after the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers.

?RRM associates with the assembly on most of the issues raised but its claim of having the strongest voting strength is not true.

?This is because the Ijaws living in the riverine areas cover about 10 local government areas out of the 23 LGAs in Rivers.

?The Ijaws are scattered everywhere, especially in urban areas, and have built bridges with the Ikwerre, Orashi, Etche, Oyibo and Ogoni communities over the past 50 years,? they said. (NAN)

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